Hibiscus plant named ‘Reggae Breeze’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Reggae Breeze’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading, uniform, dense and symmetrical plant habit that is appropriate for container production; glossy and dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; golden yellow-colored flowers with dark red bands surrounding burgundy centers; good resistance to flower bud abscission during shipping; and tolerance to pathogens common to  Hibiscus  grown under Florida production conditions.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Reggae Breeze’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Reggae Breeze’.

The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is tocreate new freely-branching Hibiscus cultivars with a dense, uniform andcompact plant habit appropriate for container production, early anduniform flowering, numerous flowers per lateral branch, desirable flowercolor and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hibiscus originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Alva, Fla. in early 1999, of a proprietary Hibiscusrosa-sinensis selection, designated as code number YB-2002, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Hibiscusrosa-sinensis selection, designated as code number YB-2055, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Reggae Breeze wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment inAlva, Fla., on Sep. 15, 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by vegetative terminal cuttingsin a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. since February, 2001, hasshown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Reggae Breeze has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Reggae Breeze’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Reggae Breeze’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading, uniform, dense and symmetrical        plant habit that is appropriate for container production.    -   2. Glossy, palmately-lobed and dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Golden yellow-colored flowers with dark red bands surrounding        burgundy centers.    -   5. Good resistance to flower bud abscission during shipping.    -   6. Tolerant to pathogens common to Hibiscus grown under Florida        production conditions.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the proprietary Hibiscus selection code number YB-2002. Plantsof the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the female parent selection inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are not as vigorous as plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more outwardly spreading than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as flowers of plants of the female parent        selection are golden orange in color.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent,the proprietary Hibiscus selection code number YB-2055. Plants of thenew Hibiscus differ from plants of the male parent selection in flowercolor as plants of the male parent selection in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are not as vigorous as plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have light orange-colored flowers with yellow centers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscuscultivar Largo Breeze, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,869. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newHibiscus differed from plants of the cultivar Largo Breeze in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Flower petals of plants of the new Hibiscus were not as        overlapping as flower petals of plants of the cultivar Largo        Breeze.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the cultivar Largo Breeze        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Largo Breeze        had orange-colored flowers with dark red centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view offive typical flowering plants of ‘Reggae Breeze’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Reggae Breeze’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and valuesdescribe plants grown in Alva, Fla., with five plants per 16.5-cmcontainer in polyethylene-covered greenhouses during the late summerunder conditions which closely approximate commercial production. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16 to 37° C.and night temperatures ranged from 13 to 26° C. Plants were about fourmonths old when the photographs and the description were taken. In thedescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Reggae    Breeze.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis designated as code number YB-2002, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis designated as code number YB-2055, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at temperatures of 24°            C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at temperatures of            24° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Somewhat freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright,            outwardly spreading, uniform, dense and symmetrical plant            habit; inverted triangle. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about three to            four lateral branches develop after removal of terminal            apex.        -   Plant height.—About 29 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 38 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 27 cm. Diameter:            About 5 mm. Internode length: About 3.2 cm. Strength:            Strong, but flexible. Texture: Immature, pubescent; mature,            woody and rough. Color: Immature: Close to 146A overlain            with close to 187A. Mature: Close to 197A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, single;            numerous; symmetrical. Length: About 7.75 cm. Width: About            7.1 cm. Shape: Ovate to cordate; palmately-lobed. Apex:            Acute; typically reflexed. Base: Cordate to obtuse. Margin:            Crenate; palmately-lobed. Texture, upper surface: Smooth to            sparsely pubescent; rough; leathery. Luster, upper surface:            Glossy. Luster, lower surface: Somewhat glossy. Venation            pattern: Palmate. Color: Developing and fully expanded            foliage, upper surface: Darker green than 147A. Developing            and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 147A.            Venation, upper surface: 147A to darker green than 147A.            Venation, lower surface: Close to 147A to darker green than            146A. Petiole: Length: About 3.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            surface: Close to 147A faintly overlain with close to 187A.            Color, lower surface: Close to 146A to 147A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf            axils. Freely flowering with usually about three flower buds            and/or open flowers per terminal apex. Flowers face upright            to outwardly.        -   Flower appearance.—Rounded, golden yellow-colored flowers            with dark red bands surrounding burgundy centers. Flowers            are open for about one to two days. Flowers persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Usually spring and summer or            during periods of warm weather.        -   Flower bud (before stage of showing color).—Resistance to            abscission during shipping: Plants of the new Hibiscus have            been observed to resist flower bud drop when stored in a            closed box for 5 days at 13° C. Length: About 2.25 cm.            Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 146A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 10.5 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 7.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that            are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 6.3 cm.            Width: About 4.7 cm. Shape: Roughly obovate to spatulate.            Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; somewhat            ruffled. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous, satiny; center, waxy. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 12A; bands, close to            46A to 53A; centers, close to 59A to 187A; venation, close            to 46A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 12A to 12C.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular            star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About            1.1 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth; waxy. Texture, lower            surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to            146B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.        -   Flower bracts.—Appearance: About six fused at base. Length:            About 1.3 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Sharply acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Sparsely            pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower            surface: Close to 147A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.25 mm.            Angle: Straight to slightly bent. Strength: Strong,            flexible. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            about 50. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament color: Close            to 46A. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther size: About 2 mm by            1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 4D. Amount of pollen:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium: Pistil            length: About 7.2 cm. Style length: About 6.1 cm. Style            texture: Smooth, waxy. Style color: Close to 53A; towards            the base, close to 59A to 187A. Stigma appearance: Five,            rounded. Stigma color: Close to 53A. Ovary color: Close to            144A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from 0 to 38° C.-   Disease/pest tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus grown under    Florida production conditions have shown to be relatively tolerant    to pathogens common to Hibiscus such as Pseudomonas, Pythium and    Phytophthora. Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed to    be tolerant to pests and other pathogens.

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Reggae Breeze’, asillustrated and described.